You know how some teams just feel like they’re playing a different sport? That was the 2024 Montana State Bobcats. If you’ve been looking at montana state football stats lately, you’ve probably noticed they didn't just win; they steamrolled people. We’re talking about an offense that led the nation in points and yards, finishing a perfect 12-0 regular season before snagging the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS playoffs. It’s the kind of year Bozeman will be talking about for decades.
Honestly, it starts and ends with "Touchdown Tommy." Tommy Mellott didn't just play quarterback; he became the most efficient passer in the country. He completed 67.7% of his throws for 2,759 yards. But here is the kicker: he only threw two interceptions all year. Two. In sixteen games. When you pair that with 31 passing touchdowns and another 1,050 yards on the ground, you get the Walter Payton Award winner. It’s essentially the Heisman of the FCS, and Mellott earned every bit of it.
Montana State Football Stats: The Ground Game is Just Different
Montana State’s rushing attack is basically a legal form of bullying. They didn't just run the ball; they averaged 7.3 yards per play as a team. That is an absurd number. Usually, if a team averages 5 yards per carry, they're elite. The Bobcats put up 4,719 total rushing yards over the 2024 campaign.
Adam Jones and Scottre Humphrey were a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Jones, the Freshman All-American, and Humphrey, who averaged 8 yards per carry, provided a depth that most Big Sky teams couldn't handle. It wasn't uncommon to see the Bobcats rack up 300+ yards on the ground before the fourth quarter even started. In their late-season clash against Montana, the Griz were held to just 11 points while the Bobcats' rushing machine churned out a 34-11 victory.
Breaking Down the 2024 Production
The sheer volume of the Bobcats' offense in 2024 was staggering. Here is a look at what the primary playmakers actually did on the field:
- Tommy Mellott (QB): 2,759 passing yards, 31 TDs, 2 INTs; 1,050 rushing yards, 15 TDs.
- Adam Jones (RB): 197 rushing yards in the Brawl of the Wild alone; finished as a top freshman contributor.
- Scottre Humphrey (RB): Averaged 8.0 yards per carry with 8+ touchdowns.
- Rohan Jones (TE): A massive red-zone threat who earned Second Team All-America honors before transferring to Arkansas.
- Ty McCullouch (WR): Led the receiver group with explosive plays, averaging over 17 yards per catch.
Why the Defense Doesn't Get Enough Credit
Everyone talks about the points, but the defense was the backbone of that #1 ranking. They allowed only 18.3 points per game. In the Big Sky, where teams love to air it out and score 40, that’s basically like a shutout.
Brody Grebe was the name you heard on every broadcast. He’s a relentless defensive end who ended up as a Second Team All-American. He and Kenneth Eiden IV lived in the backfield. The Bobcats held opponents to just 311 total yards per game. Think about that. While the MSU offense was putting up nearly 480 yards a game, the defense was holding teams to almost 170 yards less.
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The secondary, led by guys like Caden Dowler and Rylan Ortt, was disciplined. They didn't gamble much, which is why they didn't give up big plays. They basically forced you to drive 80 yards in 12 plays to score, and almost nobody could do that without making a mistake.
The 2025 National Championship Run
If you were following the montana state football stats into the postseason, you saw a team that refused to quit. After a 14-2 overall record, the Bobcats found themselves in Nashville on January 5, 2026. The opponent? Illinois State.
It was an absolute classic. The game went into overtime, and the Bobcats pulled it off 35-34. This secured their first national title since 1984. It wasn't just a win; it was a validation of Brent Vigen’s system. They survived a 2OT heartbreaker against South Dakota State earlier in the year and used that grit to navigate a playoff bracket that included a 48-23 semifinal blowout of their rivals, the Montana Grizzlies.
2025 Statistical Leaders (Post-Mellott Era)
With Mellott moving on to pro days (where he reportedly ran a 4.39 40-yard dash—yeah, you read that right), the 2025 season saw a new look. Justin Lamson took the reigns and put up massive numbers of his own:
- Justin Lamson: 3,172 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
- Taco Dowler: 1,025 receiving yards and a lethal return game (323 punt return yards).
- Kenneth Eiden IV: Stepped up with 8.0 sacks to lead the defense.
- Myles Sansted: The kicker was a machine, accounting for 126 points.
What Most People Get Wrong About MSU’s Success
There’s this idea that Montana State is just a "run-first" team that got lucky with a dual-threat QB. That’s sort of a lazy take. Honestly, their success is built on the offensive line.
Marcus Wehr and Conner Moore were the real MVPs. Wehr was PFF’s highest-graded tackle for a reason. You don't average 7 yards per carry if your tackles aren't moving people off the line of scrimmage. Even when they lost starters to the portal or graduation, the "Next Man Up" culture in Bozeman kept the rushing lanes open.
They also play a 4-2-5 defensive scheme that is specifically designed to stop the modern spread offenses of the Big Sky. By having five defensive backs on the field most of the time, they take away the quick passing game that many FCS teams rely on.
Moving Forward: The 2026 Outlook
Looking at the upcoming schedule, the Bobcats aren't slowing down. They open 2026 with a road trip to Utah Tech on August 29, followed by a home opener against Butler. The transition from the Mellott era to the Lamson era proved that the system is bigger than any one player.
If you're tracking montana state football stats for the upcoming season, keep an eye on the turnover margin. That has been the secret sauce. In 2024, they were +14 in turnovers. If they keep protecting the ball and letting their defensive line hunt, they’re going to be a top-5 team for the foreseeable future.
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To get the most out of following the Bobcats this season, start by watching the line of scrimmage rather than the ball. Notice how Marcus Wehr's replacement handles the edge in the first three games. You should also track the "Points Responsible For" stat for the starting QB, as this has historically been the best predictor of the Bobcats' postseason seeding. Keeping an eye on the third-down conversion percentage will tell you more about this team's health than the final score of a blowout win.